Detection and Imaging of Aβ1-42 and Tau Fibrils by Redesigned Fluorescent X-34 Analogues

We revisited the Congo red analogue 2,5-bis(4'-hydroxy-3'-carboxy-styryl)benzene (X-34) to develop this highly fluorescent amyloid dye for imaging Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology comprising Aβ and Tau fibrils. A selection of ligands with distinct optical properties were synthesized by replacing the central benzene unit of X-34, with other heterocyclic moieties. Full photophysical characterization was performed, including recording absorbance and fluorescence spectra, Stokes shift, quantum yield and fluorescence lifetimes. All ligands displayed high affinity towards recombinant amyloid fibrils of Aβ1-42 (13-300 nm K